the red one-第9章

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go。'　　'Too　late；'　said　I。　　And　I　told　her　why。



〃And　told　her　about　me　waiting　for　you　back　in　Nebraska；〃　Mrs。

Jones　observed　in　cold；　passionless　tones。



〃Now；　Sarah；　why　should　I　hurt　a　poor　Indian　girl's　feelings？　　Of

course　I　didn't。



〃Well；　she　and　Paloma　talked　Indian　some　more；　and　then　Vahna　says：

'If　you　stay；　I'll　show　you　the　biggest　nugget　that　is　the　father

of　all　other　nuggets。'　　'How　big？'　I　asked。　　'As　big　as　me？'　　She

laughed。　　'Bigger　than　you；'　she　says；　'much；　much　bigger。'　　'They

don't　grow　that　way；'　I　said。　　But　she　said　she'd　seen　it　and

Paloma　backed　her　up。　　Why；　to　listen　to　them　you'd　have　thought

there　was　millions　in　that　one　nugget。　　Paloma　'd　never　seen　it

herself；　but　she'd　heard　about　it。　　A　secret　of　the　tribe　which　she

couldn't　share；　being　only　half　Indian　herself。〃



Julian　Jones　paused　and　heaved　a　sigh。



〃And　they　kept　on　insisting　until　I　fell　for　…　〃



〃The　hussy；〃　said　Mrs。　Jones；　pert　as　a　bird；　at　the　ready　instant。



〃'No；　for　the　nugget。　　What　of　Aunt　Eliza's　farm　I　was　rich　enough

to　quit　railroading；　but　not　rich　enough　to　turn　my　back　on　big

money　…　and　I　just　couldn't　help　believing　them　two　women。　　Gee！　　I

could　be　another　Vanderbilt；　or　J。　P。　Morgan。　　That's　the　way　I

thought；　and　I　started　in　to　pump　Vahna。　　But　she　wouldn't　give

down。　　'You　come　along　with　me；'　she　says。　　'We　can　be　back　here　in

a　couple　of　weeks　with　all　the　gold　the　both　of　us　can　carry。'

'We'll　take　a　burro；　or　a　pack…train　of　burros；'　was　my　suggestion。

But　nothing　doing。　　And　Paloma　agreed　with　her。　　It　was　too

dangerous。　　The　Indians　would　catch　us。



〃The　two　of　us　pulled　out　when　the　nights　were　moonlight。　　We

travelled　only　at　night；　and　laid　up　in　the　days。　　Vahna　wouldn't

let　me　light　a　fire；　and　I　missed　my　coffee　something　fierce。　　We

got　up　in　the　real　high　mountains　of　the　main　Andes；　where　the　snow

on　one　pass　gave　us　some　trouble；　but　the　girl　knew　the　trails；

and；　though　we　didn't　waste　any　time；　we　were　a　full　week　getting

there。　　I　know　the　general　trend　of　our　travel；　because　I　carried　a

pocket　compass；　and　the　general　trend　is　all　I　need　to　get　there

again；　because　of　that　peak。　　There's　no　mistaking　it。　　There　ain't

another　peak　like　it　in　the　world。　　Now；　I'm　not　telling　you　its

particular　shape；　but　when　you　and　I　head　out　for　it　from　Quito

I'll　take　you　straight　to　it。



〃It's　no　easy　thing　to　climb；　and　the　person　doesn't　live　that　can

climb　it　at　night。　　We　had　to　take　the　daylight　to　it；　and　didn't

reach　the　top　till　after　sunset。　　Why；　I　could　take　hours　and　hours

telling　you　about　that　last　climb；　which　I　won't。　　The　top　was　flat

as　a　billiard　table；　about　a　quarter　of　an　acre　in　size；　and　was

almost　clean　of　snow。　　Vahna　told　me　that　the　great　winds　that

usually　blew；　kept　the　snow　off　of　it。



〃We　were　winded；　and　I　got　mountain　sickness　so　bad　that　I　had　to

stretch　out　for　a　spell。　　Then；　when　the　moon　come　up；　I　took　a

prowl　around。　　It　didn't　take　long；　and　I　didn't　catch　a　sight　or　a

smell　of　anything　that　looked　like　gold。　　And　when　I　asked　Vahna；

she　only　laughed　and　clapped　her　hands。　　Meantime　my　mountain

sickness　tuned　up　something　fierce；　and　I　sat　down　on　a　big　rock　to

wait　for　it　to　ease　down。



〃'Come　on；　now；'　I　said；　when　I　felt　better。　　'Stop　your　fooling

and　tell　me　where　that　nugget　is。'　　'It's　nearer　to　you　right　now

than　I'll　ever　get；'　she　answered；　her　big　eyes　going　sudden

wistful。　　'All　you　Gringos　are　alike。　　Gold　is　the　love　of　your

heart；　and　women　don't　count　much。'



〃I　didn't　say　anything。　　That　was　no　time　to　tell　her　about　Sarah

here。　　But　Vahna　seemed　to　shake　off　her　depressed　feelings；　and

began　to　laugh　and　tease　again。　　'How　do　you　like　it？'　she　asked。

'Like　what？'　　'The　nugget　you're　sitting　on。'



〃I　jumped　up　as　though　it　was　a　red…hot　stove。　　And　all　it　was　was

a　rock。　　I　felt　nay　heart　sink。　　Either　she　had　gone　clean　loco　or

this　was　her　idea　of　a　joke。　　Wrong　on　both　counts。　　She　gave　me

the　hatchet　and　told　me　to　take　a　hack　at　the　boulder；　which　I　did；

again　and　again；　for　yellow　spots　sprang　up　from　under　every　blow。

By　the　great　Moses！　it　was　gold！　　The　whole　blamed　boulder！〃



Jones　rose　suddenly　to　his　full　height　and　flung　out　his　long　arms；

his　face　turned　to　the　southern　skies。　　The　movement　shot　panic

into　the　heart　of　a　swan　that　had　drawn　nearer　with　amiably

predatory　designs。　　Its　consequent　abrupt　retreat　collided　it　with

a　stout　old　lady；　who　squealed　and　dropped　her　bag　of　peanuts。

Jones　sat　down　and　resumed。



〃Gold；　I　tell　you；　solid　gold　and　that　pure　and　soft　that　I　chopped

chips　out　of　it。　　It　had　been　coated　with　some　sort　of　rain…proof

paint　or　lacquer　made　out　of　asphalt　or　something。　　No　wonder　I'd

taken　it　for　a　rock。　　It　was　ten　feet　long；　all　of　five　feet

through；　and　tapering　to　both　ends　like　an　egg。　　Here。　　Take　a　look

at　this。〃



From　his　pocket　he　drew　and　opened　a　leather　case；　from　which　he

took　an　object　wrapped　in　tissue…paper。　　Unwrapping　it；　he　dropped

into　my　hand　a　chip　of　pure　soft　gold；　the　size　of　a　ten…dollar

gold…piece。　　I　could　make　out　the　greyish　substance　on　one　side

with　which　it　had　been　painted。



〃I　chopped　that　from　one　end　of　the　thing；〃　Jones　went　on；

replacing　the　chip　in　its　paper　and　leather　case。　　〃And　lucky　I　put

it　in　my　pocket。　　For　right　at　my　back　came　one　loud　word　…　more

like　a　croak　than　a　word；　in　my　way　of　thinking。　　And　there　was

that　lean　old　fellow　with　the　eagle　beak　that　had　dropped　in　on　us

one　night。　　And　there　was　about　thirty　Indians　with　him　…　all　slim

young　fellows。



〃Vahna'd　flopped　down　and　begun　whimpering；　but　I　told　her；　'Get　up

and　make　friends　with　them　for　me。'　　'No；　no；'　she　cried。　　'This　is

death。　　Good…bye；　AMIGO　…　'〃



Here　Mrs。　Jones　winced；　and　her　husband　abruptly　checked　the

particular　flow　of　his　narrative。



〃'Then　get　up　and　fight　along　with　me；'　I　said　to　her。　　And　she

did。　　She　was　some　hellion；　there　on　the　top　of　the　world；　clawing

and　scratching　tooth　and　nail　…　a　regular　she　cat。　　And　I　wasn't

idle；　though　all　I　had　was　that　hatchet　and　my　long　arms。　　But　they

were　too　many　for　me；　and　there　was　no　place　for　me　to　put　my　back

against　a　wall。　　When　I　come　to；　minutes　after　they'd　cracked　me　on

the　head　…　here；　feel　this。〃



Removing　his　hat；　Julian　Jones　guided　my　finger　tips　through　his

thatch　of　sandy　hair　until　they　sank　into　an　indentation。　　It　was

fully　three　inches　long；　and　went　into　the　bone　itself　of　the

skull。




〃When　I　come　to；　there　was　Vahna　spread…eagled　on　top　of　the

nugget；　and　the　old　fellow　with　a　beak　jabbering　away　solemnly　as

if　going　through　some　sort　of　religious　exercises。　　In　his　hand　he

had　a　stone　knife　…　you　know；　a　thin；　sharp　sliver　of　some

obsidian…like　stuff　same　as　they　make　arrow…heads　out　of。　　I

couldn't　lift　a　hand；　being　held　down；　and　being　too　weak　besides。

And　…　well；　anyway；　that　stone　knife　did　for　her；　and　me　they

didn't　even　do　the　honour　of　killing　there　on　top　their　sacred

peak。　　They　chucked　me　off　of　it　like　so　much　carrion。



〃And　the　buzzards　didn't　get　me　either。　　I　can　see　the　moonlight

yet；　shining　on　all　those　peaks　of　snow；　as　I　went　down。　　Why；　sir；

it　was　a　five…hundred…foot　fall；　only　I　didn't　make　it。　　I　went

into　a　big　snow…drift　in　a　crevice。　　And　when　I　come　to　（hours

after　I　know；　for　it　was　full　day　when　I　next　saw　the　sun）；　I　found

myself　in　a　regular　snow…cave　or　tunnel　caused　by　the　water　from

the　melting　snow　running　along　the　ledge。　　In　fact；　the　stone　above

actually　overhung　just　beyond　where　I　first　landed。　　A　few　feet

more　to　the　side；　either　way；　and　I'd　almost　be　going　yet。　　It　was

a　straight　miracle；　that's　what　it　was。



〃But　I　paid　for　it。　　It　was　two　years　and　over　before　I　knew　what

happened。　　All　I　knew　was　that　I　was　Julian　Jones　and　that　I'd　been

blacklisted　in　the　big　strike；　and　that　I　was　married　to　Sarah

here。　　I　mean　that。　　I　didn't　know　anything　in　between；　and　when

Sarah　tried　to　talk　about　it；　it　gave　me　pains　in　the　head。　　I　mean

my　head　was　queer；　and　I　knew　it　was　queer。



〃And　then；　sitting　on　the　porch　of　her　father's　farmhouse　back　in

Nebraska　one　moonlight　evening；　Sarah　came　out　and　put　that　gold

chip　into　my　hand。　　Seems　she'd　just　found　it　in　the　torn　lining　of

the　trunk　I'd　brought　back　from　Ecuador　…　I　who　for　two　years

didn't　even　know　I'd　been　to　Ecuador；　or　Australia；　or　anything！

Well；　I　just　sat　there　looking　at　the　chip　in　the　moonlight；　and

turning　it　over　and　over　and　figuring　what　it　was　and　where　it'd

come　from；　when　all　of　a　sudden　there　was　a　snap　inside　my　head　as

if　something　had　broken；　and　then　I　could　see　Vahna　spread…eagled

on　that　big　nugget　and　the　old　fellow　with　the　beak　waving　the

stone　knife；　and　。　。　。　and　everything。　　That　is；　everything　that

had　happened　from　the　time　I　first　left　Nebraska　to　when　I　crawled

to　the　daylight　out　of　the　snow　after　they　had　chucked　me　off　the

mountain…top。　　But　everything　that'd　happened　after　that　I'd　clean

forgotten。　　When　Sarah　said　I　was　her　husband；　I　wouldn't　listen　to

her。　　Took　all　her　family　and　the　preacher　that'd　married　us　to

convince　me。



〃Later　on　I　wrote　to　Seth　Manners。　　The　railroad　hadn't　killed　him

yet；　and　he　pieced　out　a　lot　for　me。　　I'll　show　you　his　letters。

I've　got　them　at　the　hotel。　　One　day；　he　said；　making　his　regular

run；　I　crawled　out　on　to　the　track。　　I　didn't　stand　upright；　I　just

crawled。　　He　took　me　for　a　calf；　or　a　big　dog；　at　first。　　I　wasn't

anything　human；　he　said；　and　I　didn't　know　him　or　anything。　　As

near　as　I　can　make　out；　it　was　ten　days　after　the　mountain…top　to

the　time　Seth　picked　me　up。　　What　I　ate　I　don't　know。　　Maybe　I

didn't　eat。　　Then　it　was　doctors　at　Quito；　and　Paloma　nursing　me

（she　must　have　packed　that　gold　chip　in　my　trunk）；　until　they　found

out　I　was　a　man　without　a　mind；　and　the　railroad　sent　me　back　to

Nebraska。　　At　any　rate；　that's　what　Seth　writes　me。　　Of　myself；　I

don't　know。　　But　Sarah　here　knows。　　She　corresponded　with　the

railroad　before　they　shipped　me　and　all　that。〃



Mrs。　Jones　nodded　affirmation　of　his　words；　sighed　and　evidenced

unmistakable　signs　of　eagerness　to　go。



〃I　ain't　been　able　to　work　since；〃　her　husband　continued。　　〃And　I

ain't　been　able　to　figure　out　how　to　get　back　that　big　nugget。

Sarah's　got　money　of　her　own；　and　she　won't　let　go　a　penny　…　〃



〃He　won't　get　down　to　THAT　country　no　more！〃　she　broke　forth。



〃But；　Sarah；　Vahna's　dead　…　you　know　that；〃　Julian　Jones　protested。



〃I　don't　know　anything　about　anything；〃　she　answered　decisively；

〃except　that　THAT　country　is　no　place　for　a　married　man。〃



Her　lips　snapped　together；　and　she　fixed　an　unseeing　stare　across

to　where　the　afternoon　sun　was　beginning　to　glow　into　sunset。　　I

gazed　for　a　moment　at　her　face；　white；　plump；　tiny；　and　implacable；

and　gave　her　up。